NBA seeks NHRC intervention in R

New Delhi, May 4 A seven-member delegation of the NBA, led by its leader Medha Patkar, today submitted a memorandum to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), seeking its intervention in the relief and rehabilitation of the Sardar Sarovar Dam affected- people.

''We sought the Commission's intervention in the relief and rehabilitation of the displaced people. The issues is about the violation of their right to live, livelihood and survival,'' Ms Patkar told UNI after meeting NHRC chairperson Justice A S Anand here.

The NBA leader said the delegation urged the Commission to set a ''special guidelines'' to deal with ''development induced displacement''.

The Commission must involve members of the civil society while framing the guidelines to arrive at a broad consensus.

''Development projects have displaced people the in Narmada valley and urban poor in Delhi and Mumbai... these should be looked into as is a human rights issue,'' she added.

Ms Patkar said the displacement of people by the Sardar Sarovar Dam was so vast that it can not be ignored.

''The NHRC should have taken cognizance of the issue when all the conventions and even the 2000 Supreme Court order, passed by Justice Anand, to rehabilitate the affected people have been ignored,'' she said.

Ms Patkar said Justice Anand assured the NBA that the Commission will consider the matter within the framework of the Human Right Act.

Earlier, Ms Patkar and NBA activists staged a sit in out side the NHRC premises at Copernicus Marg here.

UNI